Signal-control mechanism



W. E. POSSINGER AND G. T. CUNNINGHAM.

Patented Nov.

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entree .sTATiEs rarest asst WILLIAM E. POSSINGER AND GEORGE '1. CUNNINGHAM, 0F TWIN, VTASHINGTGN.

- SIGNAL-CONTROL MEC ANISM.

Application filed June 2,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM E. Ppss siNGnR'and Gnonen T. CUNNINGHAM, citizens of the United States, residing at Twin, in the county of Cl'allam and State of Washington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Signal- Control Mechanisms, of which the following 1S a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in signal control mechanisms and relates more particularly to signal control mechanisms adapted for use byloggers, miners, builders and othersand the object of our invention is to provide a'manually operated s gnal control mechanism adapted for attachment to steam or air whistles of any well known form for the-direct and remote control or actuation of the same.

Another object is to provide a signal control mechanism that embodies simplicity, durability and economy in constructlon, that is positive and efficient in operation an that will not readily get out of order. I

With the above and other objects in View which will appear'as our description proceeds, our invention resides in the novel construction, combination, adaptation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. 7 e

We accomplish these objects by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in top plan .of a signal control mechanism embodying our invention as it would appear when attached to a steam whistle, parts .being broken away.

' Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same also illustrating in dot and dash lines the actuated position of the remote control or signaling mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating the actuated position of the direct control or signaling mechanism; 6'

Fig. 4 isa View in transverse verticalsection taken on a broken line 41-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on a broken line 55 of Fig. 2, and

' Fig. 6 is a view in horizontal section taken on a broken line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings throughout which like reference numerals designate like parts, the numeral 10 designates the fluid pressure supplypipe, valve,,'12 the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1', 16 21.. 1920. Serial No. 386,118.

cup-0r bell of a steam or air whistle of well known form.

The numeral 15 designates the support or bracket member of our signal control mechamenu, which is formed from a rectangular bar of fiat iron or. steel in the shape substantially as shown in the drawings. The support 15 comprising a central portion 16 which is normally disposed edgewise in a vertical plane having the ends thereof twisted to dispose the portions 17 and 18 of the support 15 substantially at right angles to the portion 16. The portions 17 and 18 are bent upwardly as at points 19 and 20 to provide upwardly projecting vertical arms 21 and 22 adapted to support on the upper ends thereof the elements comprising our signal control mechanism.

The support 15 is further adaptedto be adjustably secured to the fluid pressure supply pipe 10 at .a point beneath and adjacent the valve 11 as shown more clearly in support having a substantially semi-circular shaped offset 25 formed therein substantially midway of the length thereof; the offset 25 being bent and adapted to @011. form to the curvature of the pipe 10 when the support 15 is positioned thereon as shown more clearly in Fig. 6. AU-bolt 26 with its associated. nuts 27 and a plate 28 serve to adjustably secure the support 15 on the pipe 10, the U bolt 26 being adapted to normally straddle the pipe 10 and having its ends pass through suitable, apertures formed in the support 15 and the plate 28;, which plate 28 is adapted to abut the outer face o-fthe offset 25 to compensate for the curvature thereof and'to furnishasuitable bearing for the nuts 27 as shown in Fig. 6. 4

It will be obvious from the foregoing and by referring to the drawings that this construction provides a simple, positive and effective means for securing the support 15 on the pipe 10, while readily permitting of theadjustment of the support on'the pipe in an axial or circumferential direction when necessary or desirable. j

The remote and direct signal control mechanisms comprise, spaced parallel rods d Figs. 2 and 3. The central portion 16 of the 30, cross bars 31,32 and 33 a'threaded rod 8 1, a main retraction spring 35., an actuating rod 36, an actuating cable 37 therefor, a bell crank lever 38, a retraction spring 39 therefor, a threaded stein 40 forthei said spring,-

. adapted to pass.

a fulcrum plate 41, a stop 42 and an actuating cable 43 for the said bell crank lever. The spaced parallel rods 30 are disposed one on each side of the valve 11, the axes of the said rods being disposed in the same horizontal plane and in parallel relation with respect to the axis of the valve stem 13 of the valve 11. The said rods 30 are also screw threaded substantially throughout their length, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1.

The cross bar 31 is adapted to be transversely .disposed on the upper end and on the forward side of the vertical arm 21and to be fixedly secured thereto by the threaded rod 34and its associated nuts 34 which are medially disposed in the said arm and cross Slidably disposed in suitable apertures formed in the outer ends of the cross bar 31 are sleeve numbers 31 which with their associated nuts 31 are mounted for axial adjustment on the parallel rods 30 adjacent the rear ends thereof. This construction thus provides a suitable support or bearing for the said rear ends of the rods 30 while permitting of free axial movement of the latter in the outer ends of the said cross bar 31.

' The cross bar 32' is transversely disposed upon the rods 30 at a point substantially midway of the length of the same. The said bar 32 having suitable apertures formed in the ends thereof through which the said rods 30 are adapted to pass. The bar 32 is adapted for axial adjustment on the rods 30 and arranged to be fixedly secured thereon in any predetermined position by its associated nuts 32 which are threadably engaged on the rods.

Integral with or otherwise fixedly secured to the rear side of thebar 32 is a medially disposed lug or ear 32 having an eye formed therein which is adapted to receive and engage the forward end of the main retraction spring 35, while the rear end of the spring 35 is disposed and secured in an eye 34 formed on the forward end of the threaded rod 34. The primary function of the retraction spring 35 being to retain the mechanism in a normally retracted or inoperative position and the threaded rod 34 while primarily functioning as a means tofixedly secure the cross arm 31 in its proper position on the upper end of the vertical arm 21 also serves as an adjusting medium to regulate the tension of the main retraction spring 35 as will be readily understood.

The cross bar'33 is transversely disposed upon the rods 30 adjacent the forward ends thereof, the ends ofthe said bar having suitable apertures formed therein through which the said forward-ends; of the rods 30 are 7 The said cross bar 33 is adapted for axial adjustment on the rods 30 and is arranged to be fixedly secured thereon in any predetermined position by its associated nuts 33 which are threadably engaged on the rods 30.

I The actuating rod 36 is slidably disposed in a medially disposed aperture or hearing formed in the upper end of the vertical arm 22. The threaded reare'nd of the said actuating rod 36 is adapted to be disposed in a central apertureformedinthe cross bar 33 being arranged to be fixedly secured thereto in any predetermined position by its associated nuts 36 threadably engaged on the said rear'end. The forward end of the said actuating rod 36 is provided with an eye 36 adapted to receive and positively retain the inner end of the actuating cable 37 of the remote signal control mechanism.;

The bell crank lever 38 is pivotally mounted at 33 to the upper end of the fulcrum plate 41, which fulcrum plate is fixedly secured to the outer side of the portion 16' of the support 15 and adjacent the rear end thereof by rivets 41.

To retain the bell crank lever 38 in a normally inoperative or retracted position, the forward end of the retraction spring 39 is adapted to be operatively engaged with theshort'arm 38 as shown in the drawings. The rear end of the said spring 39 is adapted to be engaged with the eye 40 formed on the forward end of the threaded stem 40. The rear end of the threaded stem 40 is adapted to pass through a medially disposed aperture formed in the vertical arm 21 and .to be fixedly secured tothe said arm in any predetermined position by its associatednuts 40 threadably en- 7 gaged on the said stem. The stem40 also functions as a means to adjust the tension on the spring 39fas will be readily understood;

The long arm 38 of the bell crank lever 38 is slightly offset forwardly of itspivot 38, the said arm being adapted to engage the stop 42 at a point adjacent its forward end. V

The said stop 42 is adapted to be fixedly secured on its lower-end to the inner face of the portion 16 of the support 15 adjacent the forward end thereof as by rivets 42 The upper end of the actuating cable 43 for the direct signal control mechanism is adapted to be securely engaged in the eye 38 formed in the ,forward end of the bell cranklever 38. i v V Inthe operation of our mechanisms should it be desired to signal from a distant point the actuating cable 37 0f the remote control mechanism is pulled the requisite number of and the crossbars 31, 32 and 33 each pull of the said cable moving the rectangular frame to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 3. By referring to the drawings it will be seen that the major axis of the said cross bar 32 is disposed in the same horizontal plane as the axis of the valve stem 13 so that in each forward movement of the said frame, the

, cross bar 32 is adapted to contact with the 7 of our mechanism is obtained to enable the spring 35 to instantly return the said mechamsm to its retracted or inoperative position when the pull on the cable 37 is released.

In operating the remote signal control mechanism the bell crank lever 38 and its associated parts remain in the inoperative position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. However, should itbe desired to operate the direct signal control mechanism the cable 43 is pulled the requisite number of times to give the required signal. Each pull on the cable 43 being transmitted through the bell crank 38 to the rectangular frame formed by the rods 30 and the cross bars 31, 32 and 33 moving the said frame in a forward direction to open the valve 11 as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. In this operation the arm 38 of the bell crank 38 is adapted to engage the rear side of the cross bar 32 to transmit movement to the aforesaid rectangular frame when the said bell crank 38 is actuated through its associated actuating cable 43. The spring 39 returns the bell crank to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 when the pull on the cable 43 is released as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation of our signal control mechanism will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the'invention pertains, but, while we have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which we new consider to be the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that the signal control mechanism shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is I l-. The combination with a whistle, of a signal control mechanism comprising a support, a movable frame mounted thereon, tensioned means for the frame and a plurality of operating means for moving the frame.

2. A signal control mechanism comprising a support, a movable frame mounted thereon, tension means to retain the said frame in an inoperative position and a plurality of operating means for moving the frame.

3. In combination with a valve for a whistle, a signal control mechanism comprising a support, a movable frame mounted thereon and adapted to operate the said valve, tension means to retain the said frame in a retracted position and a plurality of operating means for moving the frame.

4. In combination with a valve for a whistle, a signal control mechanism com prising a support, a movable frame mounted thereon and adapted to operate the said valve, tension means to retain the said frame in a retracted position, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the said support and adapted to actuate the said movable frame, tension means to retain the said bell crank lever in a normally retracted position, and independently operating actuating means for the movable frame directly connected thereto.

5. A signal control mechanism comprising a support, a rectangular frame mounted for reciprocation in the said support, tension meansto retain the said frame in an inoperative position and a plurality of operat ing means for reciprocating the frame.

6. A signal control mechanism comprising a support, a rectangular frame mounted for reciprocation in the said support, tension means to retain the said frame in an inoperative position, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the said support and adapted to operatively engage the said frame, a stop for the said bell crank lever, tension means to normally retain said lever against the said stop, flexible actuating means for the said lever and independently operating actuating means for the movable frame directly connected thereto. 7

7. Valve operating mechanism comprising a tensioned frame operatively associated with the stem of the valve, and a plurality ofopcrating meansfor shifting the frame against the tension thereon to cause the frame to engage the valve stem and unseat the valve. 8. Valve operating mechanism comprising a tensioned frame operatively associated with the stem of the valve, a tensioned device adapted to engage the tensioned frame for shifting the frame and valve stem to unseat the valve, and means directly connected to the tensioned frame for shifting the same independently of the operation of the tensioned device.

- 9. Valve operating mechanism comprising in combination with a pipe line and valve having a stem, a support carried by the pipe line, a tensioned frame shiftably mounted on said support and operatively associated with the stem of the valve, and a plurality of operating means for shifting the frame.

10. Valve operating mechanism comprising in combination with a pipe line and valve having a stem, a support carried by the pipe line, a tensioned frame shiftably mounted on said support and operatively associated With the stem of the valve a tensioned bell crank mounted on the support adapted to engage the tensioned frame to shift the frame and independently operating means connected to the bell crank and tensioned frame for operating the bell crank 10 and frame. 7 V In Witness whereof, We hereunto subscribe our names this 25th day of May A. D. 1920.

WILLIAM E. POSSINGER. V GEORGE T. CUNNINGHAM. 

